Stems arborescent or subterranean, woody, covered with packed leaf-bases. Leaves crowded in a terminal crown, narrowly linear, tapered, rhombic to cuneate in T.S.; margins with microscopic trichomes, rarely hairy; leaf-base broad, thickened. Inflorescence cylindrical, spike-like, on a woody scape; flowers bisexual, in spirally-arranged clusters surrounded by packed bracts. Sepals free, chartaceous or scarious. Petals free, membranous; apices exserted. Stamens exserted; filaments flattened; anthers dorsifixed, dehiscing by slits. Ovary 3-locular; ovules several per locule; style simple; stigma entire, sometimes grooved. Capsule obtuse or pointed, the hardened style base ±exserted. Seeds 1 or 2 per locule, ovate and semi-matt black, rarely ovoid and shining.
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